Patents by Inventor Harold D. Pierce

Harold D. Pierce has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8675908
    Abstract: A low cost sound recording and playback device and a low cost method for wirelessly communicating with, and recharging of, the device. The device utilizes commonly available electronic components generally included in electronic sound producing devices thereby allowing for lowest cost of manufacture. The device includes a low cost low-power processor, general purpose low-cost loudspeaker, and a power source. The method incorporates inductive coupling between an external communication and recharging device, and the internal loudspeakers voice coil of the device. Substantial reductions in cost and space savings are realized by utilizing the internal loudspeaker's voice coil for multiple purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Inventors: Harold D. Pierce, Steven Muenter
  • Publication number: 20120294473
    Abstract: A low cost sound recording and playback device and a low cost method for wirelessly communicating with, and recharging of, the device. The device utilizes commonly available electronic components generally included in electronic sound producing devices thereby allowing for lowest cost of manufacture. The device includes a low cost low-power processor, general purpose low-cost loudspeaker, and a power source. The method incorporates inductive coupling between an external communication and recharging device, and the internal loudspeakers voice coil of the device. Substantial reductions in cost and space savings are realized by utilizing the internal loudspeaker's voice coil for multiple purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Harold D. Pierce, Steven Muenter
  • Patent number: 6575851
    Abstract: A rebound wall for a ball sport game permitting a player to hit a ball to the rebound wall and upon the ball rebounding to again hit the ball. The wall is to include sensors and transducers which can calculate and display scoring values based on where the ball strikes the rebound wall. A player can utilize the wall by himself or herself or with other players or with other players exteriorly of its location by connection electronically of the wall to a central location which is also connected to other walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Inventors: Catherine B. Lamberti, Steven E. Muenter, Harold D. Pierce
  • Patent number: 6217891
    Abstract: This invention relates to the use of volatiles from the bark of non-host angiosperm trees to protect coniferous trees from attack by bark beetles. Individual compounds or mixtures selected from 18 non-host bark volatiles, identified by coupled gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection analysis, and deployed alone or with an antiaggregation pheromone or a green leaf volatile, or mixture thereof, are demonstrated to repel conifer-infesting bark beetles from attractant-baited traps, and to protect attractant-baited trees from attack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Simon Fraser University
    Inventors: John H. Borden, Leslie J. Chong, Gerhard Gries, Regine Gries, Dezene P. W. Huber, Harold D. Pierce, Jr., Ian M. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6051612
    Abstract: This invention relates to the use of volatiles from the bark of non-host angiosperm trees to protect coniferous trees from attack by bark beetles. Individual compounds or mixtures selected from 18 non-host bark volatiles, identified by coupled gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection analysis, and deployed alone or with an antiaggregation pheromone or a green leaf volatile, or mixture thereof, are demonstrated to repel conifer-infesting bark beetles from attractant-baited traps, and to protect attractant-baited trees from attack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Simon Fraser University
    Inventors: John H. Borden, Leslie J. Chong, Gerhard Gries, Regine Gries, Dezene P. W. Huber, Harold D. Pierce, Jr., Ian M. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5481257
    Abstract: A radio control toy incorporating a module containing a compact television camera, radio frequency transmitter and radio control receiver is described. The camera incorporates a lens system designed to record point of view impressions from the toy and a microphone to provide impressions of the audio environment for transmission by the radio frequency transmitter to a remote television module. The television module incorporates means to receive the video and audio transmissions from the camera and reproduce them via a television system and audio speaker associated with the television module. A control module allows an operator, viewing the television screen and hearing the audio sounds reproduced, to operate a set of controls associated with a control module and control signals derived from the position of the controls are transmitted by a radio control transmitter in the television module to the radio control receiver in the camera module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Curtis M. Brubaker
    Inventors: Curtis M. Brubaker, Harry B. Wykes, Harold D. Pierce, Robert C. Dixon, Lawrence H. Post
  • Patent number: 5453013
    Abstract: An audio-visual book includes a plurality of pages and a text portion on the plurality of pages. The text portion includes, on each of at least two of the pages, both a plurality of lines of text and a plurality of different predetermined graphic depictions related in concept to the subject matter of the text and interposed within the lines of text. A switching mechanism is disposed in predetermined relationship to the text portion and includes a plurality of individually actuable elements, each of the switches being associated with one of the graphic depictions. A digital sound generator, responsive to actuation of one of the switches, is provided for selectively effecting generation of a sound associated with the subject of the depiction associated with the one switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Western Publishing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Zeb Billings, Harold D. Pierce, Martin R. J. Moore, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5440526
    Abstract: A wristwatch mounting an animated head of a figure and including a moveable nose overlying a watch face and formed by one end of a moveable member, the opposite end forming an armature. The moveable member is mounted on a laterally extending pivot pin such that magnitude of the torque due by the gravitational pull on such centers of mass on the opposite sides of such pivot pin are equal. A integrated circuit is provided which combines the capability to control clock functions, actuate the animation feature, synthesize speech and drive a dynamic speaker to provide overall control of the animation from a single actuation. Firmware incorporated in the integrated circuit includes means to selectively vary the message and comment in order to provide enhanced animation and novelty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Sounds Fun, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold D. Pierce, Stephen C. Jacobsen, William B. Lee
  • Patent number: 5356296
    Abstract: An audio storybook incorporates raised characters within the storybook which are electronically connected to sound synthesizer and reproduction apparatus associated with a book. The book provides the ability to utilize a progressively revealed pattern in a story, thus improving the ability of such storybooks to accommodate complex story lines and hold the reader's attention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Harold D. Pierce
    Inventors: Harold D. Pierce, Basil J. Scafidi, Bennie L. Garcia
  • Patent number: 5209665
    Abstract: An audio-visual book includes a plurality of pages and a text portion on the plurality of pages. The text portion includes, on each of at least two of the pages, both a plurality of lines of text and a plurality of different predetermined graphic depictions related in concept to the subject matter of the text and interposed within the lines of text. A switching mechanism is disposed in predetermined relationship to the text portion and includes a plurality of individually actuable elements, each of the switches being associated with one of the graphic depictions. A digital sound generator, responsive to actuation of one of the switches, is provided for selectively effecting generation of a sound associated with the subject of the depiction associated with the one switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Sight & Sound Incorporated
    Inventors: Zeb Billings, Harold D. Pierce, Martin R. J. Moore, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5197044
    Abstract: A wristwatch mounting an animated head of a figure and including a moveable nose overlying a watch face and formed by one end of a moveable member, the opposite end forming an armature. The moveable member is mounted on a laterally extending pivot pin such that magnitude of the torque due by the gravitational pull on such centers of mass on the opposite sides of such pivot pin are equal. An electrical circuit is provided with an actuation switch that may be pressed to actuate an audio speaker which emits a simulated time indicating voice in synchronism with intermittent energization of such armature to selectively move such nose between mouth open and mouth closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Sounds Fun, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold D. Pierce, Stephen C. Jacobsen, William B. Lee
  • Patent number: 5188222
    Abstract: The anti-theft display package includes a casing which retains an animatable time piece spaced apart from the transparent covering to allow the animated time piece to move. Access to a switch to cause the time piece to become animated and emit sound to tell time is also incorporated in the packaging apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Sounds Fun, Inc.
    Inventor: Harold D. Pierce
  • Patent number: 5143725
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel composition for attracting mullein bugs, Campylomma verbasci, a pest of tree fruit orchards in North America. The invention also pertains to methods of attracting mullein bugs and predicting future population levels of these insects. The composition for attracting male mullein bugs, Campylomma verbasci, comprises a mixture of butyl butyrate and 2 (E)-crotyl butyrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Phero Tech Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Smith, Harold D. Pierce, Jr., John H. Borden, Leslie J. Chong, Nairn W. Hay
  • Patent number: 5087043
    Abstract: An audio-visual interactive puzzle includes a rigid puzzle form defining a predetermined number of form cutouts, an upper graphic disposed on the form upper surface, and a plurality of respective removable puzzle pieces, each having a peripheral configuration conforming to that of an associated form cutout and bearing a piece graphic. A flexible membrane bears on the underside thereof a plurality of conductors in predetermined relative disposition, and a plurality of respective lower graphics overlie the flexible membrane and underlie the form cutouts. A spacer includes respective spacer cutouts generally corresponding to and disposed to underlie the form cutouts, and a conductive ground plane underlies the spacer cutouts. An electronic sound generator generates respective predetermined associated sounds in response to the input signals applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: Sight and Sound Inc.
    Inventors: Zeb Billings, Harold D. Pierce, Conrad W. Kish, Patrick E. Kusina
  • Patent number: 4560551
    Abstract: An insect trap is provided which contains an attractant comprising a sufficient amount of unsaturated oxacyclododecanone selected from the group consisting of (Z-12-methyloxacyclododec-4-en-2-one (I),(Z,Z)-12-methyloxacyclododeca-4,7-dien-2-one (II), and the alkyl substituted products of the foregoing, the amount of the attractant being sufficient so as to effectively attract O. mercator beetles. The attractant may also comprise an aldehyde, preferably hexanal, octanal, or nonanal, and preferably in combination with I or II, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Inventors: Aldona M. Pierce, Harold D. Pierce
  • Patent number: 4074666
    Abstract: A carburetion system for use in combination with an internal combustion engine including a closed fuel container in which fuel fed from a reservoir is maintained at a predetermined level and air drawn into the fuel container is distributed adjacent the surface of the fuel to form a combustible gaseous mixture. The combustible mixture is then drawn into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine for ignition. The concentration of fuel in the mixture is varied by adjusting the vertical displacement of the diffuser relative to the surface of the fuel in the fuel container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1978
    Inventors: Sherman L. Pierce, Harold D. Pierce
  • Patent number: D349923
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Western Publishing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Zeb Billings, Harold D. Pierce, Martin R. J. Moore, Sr.